Cuban Community in South Florida Mourns 30 Years Since Brothers to the Rescue Plane Shootout

Justice remains elusive for victims as calls grow to indict former Cuban leader Raul Castro

Feb. 24, 2026 at 11:49pm

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On February 24, 1996, two Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down by Cuban MiG fighters over international waters, killing four people. The Cuban exile community in South Florida is still mourning the loss and demanding justice, as the U.S. government has been hesitant to indict the Castro brothers for the attack. Thirty years later, with Fidel Castro deceased, there are renewed calls to revisit the case and hold Raul Castro accountable.

Why it matters

The Brothers to the Rescue shootdown was a pivotal moment for the Cuban exile community in South Florida, representing a tragic loss of life and a perceived failure of the U.S. government to hold the Castro regime fully responsible. The ongoing quest for justice highlights the lingering tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, as well as the enduring impact of the Cuban revolution on the lives of those who fled the island nation.

The details

On the night of February 24, 1996, the Brothers to the Rescue hangar at the Opa-locka Airport was filled with loved ones, families, and members of the Cuban exile community mourning the loss of four people killed when two of the organization's twin-engine Cessnas were shot down by Cuban MiG fighters over international waters. The pilots, Carlos Costa and Mario de la Peña, and observers, Armando Alejandre and Pablo Morales, were killed in the attack. Brothers to the Rescue leader Jose Basulto, who was in one of the planes, narrowly escaped the ambush.

  • On February 24, 1996, two Brothers to the Rescue planes were shot down by Cuban MiGs.
  • It has been 30 years since the shootdown incident.

The players

Brothers to the Rescue

A Cuban exile organization that flew over the Straits of Florida to spot and assist Cuban refugees attempting to reach the United States.

Jose Basulto

The leader of Brothers to the Rescue, who was in one of the planes that was shot down but managed to escape the attack.

Raul Castro

The former president of Cuba, who is accused of ordering the shootdown of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.

Guy Lewis

A former U.S. Attorney who warns that the Cuban spy network is still active in South Florida.

Mario Diaz-Balart

A U.S. Representative from South Florida who has urged the Trump Justice Department to revisit the case and indict Raul Castro.

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What they’re saying

“We must not forget Communism is evil and we must remember that.”

— Miriam de la Peña, Mother of pilot Mario de la Peña (CBS News Miami)

“We were completely penetrated by agents of the Cuban government.”

— Jose Basulto, Leader of Brothers to the Rescue (CBS News Miami)

“We are not willing to forget when people are murdered in cold blood and pretend it didn't happen, and I looked the other way.”

— Mario Diaz-Balart, U.S. Representative (CBS News Miami)

What’s next

South Florida's Cuban American members of Congress, led by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, have urged the Trump Justice Department to revisit the case and have Raul Castro indicted in the U.S. justice system.

The takeaway

The Brothers to the Rescue shootdown remains a painful and unresolved chapter in the history of the Cuban exile community in South Florida. Thirty years later, the quest for justice and accountability continues, as the community grapples with the lasting impact of the tragedy and the perceived failure of the U.S. government to hold the Castro regime fully responsible.